Talk to Alexia

"You two go cheer on Galeon." You instruct the sisters firmly as you untangle yourself from Mara's tight grip. "I'll be along as soon as I can." The young women reluctantly let themselves be guided away by the crowd moving to the wrestling rings; these young ladies are well bred enough to know when they've been dismissed.

Less than five minutes later you are scratching at Alexia's tent flap to let her know you are coming in and slowly slip into her tent. She is standing by her table flipping a knife from one hand to the other. You've seen this unnerving habit of hers before, usually when she is fretting about something or agitated by unexpected events.

"It's OK Alexia," you tell her as you stick your head in through the flap of her tent, "everyone has a bad day once in a while..."

"Shut-up Bruce!" Her face is nearly as red as her hair and as you try once again to reassure her and you wonder if perhaps, she's been crying.

"Really, you did fi-"

"I said 'shut up' Bruce." Alexia turns on you with her hands on her hips. "I didn't have a 'bad day,' you idiot. Every single arrow hit exactly where I aimed."

"What are you talking about, Alexia?" You ask more confused now than ever. "I wanted you to put the others put down a notch or two." Alexia smiles sadly and sheaths her knife effortlessly into a slit in her sleeve.

"And that's why I chose to place where I did." You take a few breaths to try to figure out the strategic advantage of looking below average and give up.

"I don't understand."

"I know." She sounds even sadder than ever. "That's the problem, but are you ready to listen now?" You nod slowly trying to figure out why she's so upset.

"Those people don't want to be shown up by me, you, or anyone else from Kalion, Bruce." She takes a half step towards you as she wipes her hands on her tunic uncertainly. "Every time one of us makes them look bad, they just become more determined prove their worth. You can't impress them with your godly skills, they just don't see you the way we do. Those two sides are going to fight it out no matter what you do, and the people of Athenapolis are the ones who are going to have to pay the price for their greed and callousness."

"Alexia," you begin as you take a step closer, suddenly filled with the desire to hold her in your arms. Almost as if she knows where you are going, she sidesteps as gracefully a duelist and changes the subject.

"I've been thinking about Mara and Sara, Bruce." Alexia has that contemplative look that you've come to know as she works out a half-developed theory, and you wonder if she is jealous of how cozy the two young women were with you as watched the Archery contest.

"They seem nice enough." You offer blandly not wanting to aggravate her more by being too effusive about the pretty sisters. Alexia, however, is clearly thinking along different lines.

"I think you should bed at least one of them." You almost **** as you hear her assessment.

"What-!?!" You finally manage to get out. "I can't do that!" As attractive as the pair are, and they were clearly chosen to tempt any man, you are not going to **** them to your bed and violate the trust the pair and their father have placed in you.

"You're right," for a heartbeat you think Alexia has come to her senses, but it just gets worse, "you can't have just one, it would devastate the other sister." You take another step closer to her and this time she makes no attempt to evade you.

"I'm just working it out now, Bruce, but the more I think about it the more I like the idea." You try to stop her, but she silences you with a raised finger and you decide to let her spell out her reasons before you end this once and for all. "OK, first of all - there are the rumors about you and your oath-brothers. I know you're not lovers, but I've told you before that this is a reoccurring issue every time the three of you disappear for hours on your 'adventures'." You snort angrily but let her continue. "Some of your men don't know what to make of you; it wouldn't hurt to take a pretty young lover or two."

"I'm not going to **** those poor girls!" You cannot contain your emotion any longer, but Alexia waves off your outburst like it is an annoying horsefly.

"Secondly - If those two are plants by the city of Athenapolis, it might not be a bad idea to let that weasel Lord Darius think that he has succeeded in corrupting you. That is if you can open up those pretty things without falling in love with them?"

"Alexia!" You stop her with a firm shake of her slender frame, "I don't want them. I want you!"

"B-b-bruce?" Your normally self-assured spymaster looks as confused as you feel, and before she can form her doubts into a logical argument, you lower your lips to meet hers. You've only really kissed a handful of girls in your whole life. You mother made it very clear that she did not want to ever catch you with one of the many palace maids in your bed no matter how much they seem to want you. Likewise, your father advised against letting any of the many noblewomen who were paraded before you by their mothers like heifers at a fair get close enough to you to put you in a compromised position. Your few encounters with women came mostly during the times you disappeared from court, and even then, you were too careful to let yourself get carried away.

All the same you can feel Alexia responding to your kiss and you pull her even closer.